Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026: Price & Release

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 Quick Facts

• Release date: October 10, 2026
• MSRP: $249
• Proof: 109.2 proof
• ABV: 54.6%
• Age: A blend of 14-, 15-, and 23-year-old bourbons
• Recipes: 14-year OBSK, 14-year OESK, 15-year OESV, and 23-year OESK
• Bottle count: Approximately 16,800 bottles
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered
• Style: Barrel-strength Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Four Roses has not announced the percentage of each component in the final blend. That matters. The inclusion of a 23-year-old bourbon is significant, but nobody outside the distillery should pretend to know how much of the final batch it represents.

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What Is in the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026?

The Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 combines four batches selected from three of the distillery’s ten bourbon recipes:

• 14-year OBSK: Four Roses’ high-rye B mash bill paired with the K yeast strain, known for rye and baking spice
• 14-year OESK: The lower-rye E mash bill paired with the K yeast strain, emphasizing balanced baking spice
• 15-year OESV: The E mash bill paired with the V yeast strain, associated with delicate fruit and caramel
• 23-year OESK: A much older version of the lower-rye, spice-driven OESK recipe

Four Roses creates its ten recipes by combining two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains. Mash bill B contains 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. Mash bill E contains 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley.

That makes this release more than an age-driven blend. It gives Master Distiller Brent Elliott two versions of the K yeast profile across both mash bills, plus a fruit-and-caramel component from OESV.

On paper, that is a smart structure: spice from OBSK, balance from the younger OESK, fruit from OESV, and mature oak from the 23-year OESK.

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Why the 23-Year OESK Component Matters

The 23-year-old OESK is the obvious hook, but it needs to be described accurately.

This is not a 23-year-old bourbon. It is a blend containing one 23-year-old component alongside bourbons aged 14 and 15 years. The youngest whiskey in the blend is 14 years old.

That distinction does not make the release less interesting. Fourteen years is already mature territory for Kentucky bourbon, and a 23-year component can add depth, seasoned oak, and texture when used carefully.

It can also create problems. Very old bourbon can become dry, tannic, and over-oaked. Age alone does not guarantee quality. The real test will be whether the 23-year OESK adds complexity without burying the fruit, caramel, and spice that make Four Roses distinctive.

Until the bottle is tasted, the 23-year age should be treated as a compelling blending detail, not proof that the whiskey is exceptional.

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Official Tasting Notes

Four Roses describes the 2026 release as opening with aromas of apricot and oak. The palate is said to develop layers of baking spice, honey, and subtle wood tones, followed by a lingering finish with fruit, vanilla, and caramel.

Those notes make sense for the recipe combination. OESV should help preserve fruit and caramel, while OBSK and OESK bring spice. The oldest OESK component should supply the mature oak.

These are producer tasting notes, not an independent review. A full verdict on flavor and balance needs to wait until the bourbon is tasted.

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How Does the 2026 Release Compare With Recent Years?

The 2026 edition has the oldest maximum-age component of the last three releases and the oldest youngest component. It also holds the $249 MSRP introduced in 2025 rather than taking another price increase.

That does not make $249 cheap. It does make the price easier to defend than it would be for a younger or lower-proof blend.

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How Hard Will It Be to Find?

Approximately 16,800 bottles sounds substantial until national demand enters the picture. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is an allocated annual release, and many stores will receive only a small number of bottles, if they receive any.

Your best options are straightforward:

• Watch Four Roses’ official release and purchase updates
• Ask trusted local retailers how they handle allocated bottles
• Enter legitimate store lotteries or drawings
• Know the $249 MSRP before shopping
• Avoid paying inflated prices simply because a listing appears early

Do not confuse a bottle being hard to find with the bottle being worth any price. Scarcity creates urgency. It does not create value.

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Is Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 Worth Chasing?

At $249 MSRP, yes, with conditions.

The specifications are strong enough to justify serious interest. You are getting barrel-strength bourbon, a 14-year minimum component age, three distinct recipe expressions, and a rare 23-year OESK component. Four Roses also has a strong record with this annual series.

But this is not a blind must-buy for everyone.

You should chase it at MSRP if:

• You already enjoy Four Roses’ fruit, spice, and oak profile
• You value mature, barrel-strength bourbon
• Spending $249 on one bottle fits your budget
• You plan to open and experience it, not buy only because it is allocated

You should pass if:

• You do not enjoy oak-forward bourbon
• You are stretching your budget to buy it
• The retailer is asking a massive markup
• The 23-year number is the only reason you want it

My early call is simple: this is one of the most interesting announced bourbon releases of 2026, and it is worth pursuing at MSRP. It is not worth paying an irrational secondary price before independent reviews exist.

The 23-year OESK gets attention. The 14-year floor and the structure of the full blend are the better reasons to care.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 release date?

The announced release date is October 10, 2026. Availability may vary by retailer and market.

What is the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 price?

The suggested retail price is $249 for a 750ml bottle. Retail pricing may vary.

What proof is the 2026 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch?

It is bottled at barrel strength at 109.2 proof, or 54.6% ABV.

How old is Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026?

The blend contains 14-year OBSK, 14-year OESK, 15-year OESV, and 23-year OESK bourbons. The youngest component is 14 years old.

Is Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 a 23-year bourbon?

No. It is a blend that includes a 23-year-old OESK component. The other bourbons in the blend are 14 and 15 years old.

How many bottles of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 will be released?

Approximately 16,800 bottles are expected to be released.

Is the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 worth buying?

Based on the confirmed specifications, it is worth considering at the $249 MSRP for fans of mature, barrel-strength Four Roses bourbon. Paying a large markup before independent reviews are available is much harder to justify.

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Final Verdict

The Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 has the right ingredients to become one of the year’s most chased releases: mature bourbon, barrel-strength proof, limited availability, and a 23-year component that gives the blend a legitimate point of distinction.

The smartest target is MSRP. At $249, the age and recipe combination make a credible case. Once the price climbs far beyond retail, the value collapses quickly, especially before anyone outside Four Roses has properly reviewed the whiskey.

Chase the bourbon because the full blend interests you. Do not chase a number on the label.